African-American Death Rate Drops 25 Percent

A new CDC report shows a decline from 1999 to 2015

May 06, 2017

According to the CDC’s Vital Signs report, the death rate for African-Americans declined 25 percent from 1999 to 2015. However, the life expectancy for African-Americans is still 4 years less than that of Caucasians.

The biggest point of concern in the study discusses the effects of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. African-Americans in their 20s, 30s, and 40s are more likely to live with or die from these conditions, while Caucasians typically suffer from the conditions later in life.

The most dramatic decrease occurred in African-American deaths among 18-to 49-year-olds due to HIV. That number decreased by 80 percent from 1999 to 2015.

“We have seen some remarkable improvements in death rates for the black population in these past 17 years. Important gaps are narrowing due to improvements in the health of the black population overall. However, we still have a long way to go,” said Leandris Liburd, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.A., associate director, CDC’s Office of Minority Health and Health Equity. “Early health interventions can lead to longer, healthier lives. In particular, diagnosing and treating the leading diseases that cause death at earlier stages is an important step for saving lives.”